Art talks
Window on progress
Jimmy Doyle Formway
Jimmy Doyle Formway, 72, died Monday, October 30, 2017, in Clarendon.
Memorial sevices will be held Thursday, November 2, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. in the First Assembly of God Church in Clarendon with Bro. Matthew Stidham officiating.
Cremation & arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Jimmy was born on May 11, 1945, to Albert Lester “Lec” Formway and Martie Maurice Payne Formway in Tulia. He married Jeannie Welch. He worked as a master mechanic for Chamberlain Motor Company for many years before working for Culberson Stowers. He enjoyed visiting with at the VFW with the men of the Head Table and he was a member of the Christian Brotherhood.
He owned Pop’s Lawn Care and enjoyed seeing the people he took care of. He enjoyed people and visiting with them and he loved his family. He loved horseback riding and was a leader on the 72-mile trail ride. He and his wife were youth ministers to college students for many years.
He was preceded in death he was preceded by his parents; a brother Albert Formway; and a sister Ava Hughes
He is survived by his wife Jeannie Formway of Clarendon; his daughter Kim Formway Davis of Clarendon; two sisters Nadene Naylor and husband Joe Tom of Dyersburg, TN and Lavetta Peters and husband John of Amarillo; and two grandsons Chesson Sims and Cedar Davis.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to the VFW Post in Clarendon.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Toni Ethelyn McBrayer Rattan
Toni Ethelyn McBrayer Rattan, age 90, died Sunday, October 22, 2017.
A celebration of life was held Friday, October 27, at 2:00 p.m. in the First Baptist Church Chapel in Clarendon with Rev. Dick Gravely officiating.
Rattan was born on Sunday, July 3, 1927, in Hall County to Will and Neta McBrayer of Estelline. She inherited a life of contrast having survived the era of the Great Depression as a child, World War II as a soldier’s bride and the turbulence of the mid last century. She was totally convicted to her Christian beliefs, not morals, but her faith in Jesus Christ as her ever steadfast life companion and eternal Savior. Family was her most common earthly interest as she loved and respected her ancestry as well as present family members. She believed in the sanctity of life and felt it should be preserved and allowed to develop into God’s purpose.
Her love for Christ was seen in her conversion as a child at 9 years old, in her life-long church membership, as a Sunday school teacher, choir member, and bible student and scholar. The word resided in her heart and translated into her actions.
She was wife to Dennis M. Rattan from World War II and beyond and faithful mother to her two only sons, Ron and Kent. She believed in education and saw to it that her sons followed the path of enlightenment and growth by obtaining college degrees and professional status in the field of architecture.
From the humble origin in the sands of West Texas to the heights that came to a plateau in political activism and the professions exemplified her life of contrasts. Her staunch belief in traditional American values led her to support those causes through time and monetary investment.
She was intelligent and extremely independent in her method of living but was also strongly and deeply dependent upon her family. She needed them and they needed her. And although her earthly family was important her sights were always set on her eternal destination, dwelling in the house of the Lord, forever.
Her life became full of trials and more than her share misery toward the end with failing health and other issues. But her life was not without fun and joy. She became interested in square dancing with her husband Dennis, as they waltzed across Texas during the 60s and 70s.
Together they owned several successful businesses and were quite content with their social standing within the Clarendon community during those middle years. They experienced the world in trips such as those to Mexico City and Acapulco together and with friends. They were happy.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father and all of her brothers and sisters.
She is survived by two sons and their wives Ron and Pam Rattan of Austin and Kent Rattan and Nikki Miller of Buena Vista, Va.; and her grandchildren Brandon Rattan of San Francisco, Calif., and Jessica and Donny Fetzer and great-grandson Dillon Craig of Houston, Claire Rattan of Staunton, Va., and Elizabeth Rattan of Philadelphia, Penn.
Charles Kenneth “Fat” Swinney
Charles Kenneth “Fat” Swinney, 88, died Saturday, October 28, 2017, in McLean.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. in Hedley Cemetery in Hedley with Rev. Bill Hodges officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Charles was born on February 28, 1929 in Hedley, Texas to Charles Thomas and Ruby Everett Swinney. He was a resident of Hedley most of his life. He married Doris Mayes and she preceded him in death in 1997. He loved fishing and was member of the First United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Doris; 2 brothers, S.L. and Hershel Swinney; daughter, Linda Lewis; and great granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth.
He is survived by a daughter, Brenda Swinney of Hedley; 2 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren and several nieces.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be sent to Rowe Cemetery P.O. Box 213 Hedley, Texas 79226.
Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com
Robert Carl Litton
Robert Carl Litton died on August 26, 2017, in hospice care at the VA Medical Center in Big Spring. Bob was born in Dallas on December 29, 1939.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
He held a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Master of Arts degree in Literature from Southern Methodist University, along with additional studies at the University of Maryland and Yale University during his military service, and later Journalism studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. He served as editor of several small west Texas newspapers, and as a reporter for newspapers and radio for many years. Bob was a journalist, a poet and a lifelong student of literature and philosophy.
Woman dies in two-vehicle collision
A Duncanville woman lost her life Wednesday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident on US 287 at Ashtola.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Sgt. Cindy Barkley reported that the accident happened at approximately 2:10 p.m. when Samuel Williams, 53, of Lenoir City, Tenn., was driving a 2017 Freightliner truck tractor/semi-trailer west on US-287 approximately 11 miles west of Clarendon.
Donna Mays, 71, was driving a 2006 Ford Focus east on US-287 and rapidly approached a pickup truck traveling east in the same lane in front of her. The driver of the pickup truck had the hazard lights activated and was escorting slow moving farm equipment. She took evasive action to avoid colliding into the rear of the pickup truck and lost control of her vehicle. May’s vehicle traveled across the center median into the westbound lane and crashed head on into the into the truck tractor. Both vehicles caught fire and were completely destroyed.
Mays was pronounced dead on scene by Donley County Justice of the Peace Pam Mason.
Williams and his passenger, Geneva Williams, 53, of Lenoir City, Tenn., were able to exit the vehicle. They were both transported to the hospital in Amarillo where they were treated and released.
Samuel Williams and Geneva Williams stated they were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. It is unknown if Mays was wearing a seat belt due to the extensive damage to her vehicle.
The crash is still under investigation, Barkley said.
Oh, deer!
Riddle lone candidate at Howardwick forum
Howardwick Mayor Pro-tem Eric Riddle had the stage all to himself last Tuesday, October 17, as a small crowd gathered at City Hall for a question and answer forum.
Riddle is running for mayor in a special election next month and is being challenged by fellow Howardwick resident Greta Byars, who told the Enterprise she chose not to attend the forum.
Howardwick citizens submitted questions before the event, and moderator Maverick Cruise, a Clarendon College student from Memphis, selected the questions.
Riddle answered a broad range of questions and said he fell into the job of mayor pro-tem by first being appointed to the city council.
“I’ve only lived here a couple of years,” Riddle said. “I didn’t want to be mayor, but I do now. I want to make a difference.”
Riddle said he wants to see Howardwick grow and said that younger residents will bring change to the community.
The mayor pro-tem dismissed the idea of re-opening a limb dump in the city, saying it would be problematic and that Clarendon’s sanitation department accepts Howardwick’s limbs and debris for a fee. He likewise said the city attempting to operate its own landfill would create more problems than it would solve in terms of the expense of construction and regulation.
Riddle said he’s familiar with the duties of mayor, already conducts city meetings according to Robert’s Rules of Order, and is also familiar with government codes and knows when to consult with others on those issues.
His top priorities are unifying the community, working with the fire department to mitigate the fire hazard in Carroll Creek, and working on utility rates through Red River Water Authority.
Asked about the condition of roads in the city, Riddle said it would take $9 million to replace the main roads in Howardwick and a bond to do that would cause a dramatic increase to property taxes.
“We will continue to patch the roads,” Riddle said and noted that the city is exploring caliche or gravel as an alternative for some of the roads.
Riddle said running the city should be like running a business and said officials should never forget their decisions affect other people.
Early voting in the Howardwick special election began Monday, October 23, and runs through November 3. Election day is November 7.
At press time, Howardwick candidates for alderman – Doc Holladay and Jada Murry – were scheduled to appear in a question and answer series Tuesday night, October 24.
Amazon’sGrand Tour to ‘takeover’ local drive-in
The Sandell Drive-In will be getting some national attention next weekend when Amazon Prime Video sponsors a double feature at the theatre as part of its Grand Tour Drive-In Takeover on Saturday, November 4.
As part of the promotion, local and area folks will get to enjoy free admission and free food as well as other giveaways during the evening.
The Grand Tour is a fun traveling car show that follows Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May as they spend more than 100 days across five continents, testing out the world most exotic cars attempting to avoid any further mishaps and injury along the way.
The Grand Tour Drive-In Takeover is a double feature event featuring one episode of the hit Amazon Prime Exclusive series, The Grand Tour, and The Italian Job motion picture.
Sandell managers say the Clarendon drive-in is the only Texas drive-in featured on The Grand Tour, which will bring its own take on the classic drive-in movie theatre experience in six states. Fans of all ages will be thrilled by a double-feature screening of a classic car film and an episode from the hit series. A must-see for families, guests will be welcomed by a custom built-out marquee sign (perfect for taking photos), gifted branded blankets, air fresheners, and snacks from the concession stand as they enter this immersive drive-in experience.
Season two of The Grand Tour starts streaming December 9 on Amazon Prime Video. Season 1 is now available on Prime. Gates open for the Drive-In Takeover next Saturday at 6 p.m.
Reader Comments